The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) announces the arrests of three people for operating a scheme to defraud the Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union (SSFCU). FDLE special agents and United States Marshals arrested the following individuals on Feb. 15:
Precious Klesha Day, 19
Tequila Marie Ferguson, 18
Farrah Sturgis, 26

All are charged with one count scheme to defraud over $50,000, a first-degree felony, and one count of conspiracy to commit a scheme to defraud over $50,000, a second degree felony.

The following individuals have warrants out for their arrest and face the same charges:
Sonya Lavette Wilbon, 30
Joseph Lamar Temple, 18
Kimberly Denise Neal, 22
Yalanda Kendrick, 30
Bobby Gandy, 31, is already in Florida Department of Corrections’ custody on unrelated charges.

The eight individuals were the subjects of a seven-month investigation by FDLE and the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution.

Acting on information from the SSFCU, investigators determined that the defendants conspired to deposit fraudulent or stolen checks on behalf of the account holder. The funds were then immediately withdrawn or purchases were made before the fraudulent checks were discovered. In some instances, the holder of the account then claimed that their SSFCU debit card was lost or stolen. Many of the fraudulent transactions were conducted through ATMs using the account holders’ debit cards.

As of the date of the arrest, SSFCU has lost more than $90,000 as a direct result of the defendants’ activities. The defendants will be prosecuted by Attorney General Bill McCollum’s Office of Statewide Prosecution.

For more information, contact:
Sandi Copes
Press Secretary
Office of the Attorney General
(850) 245-0150